The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-09-02


tom. Politics enter into it too largely
The roads are given to incompetent
men, for various reasons. He had
known roads taken away from farmers
and given to men who took no interest
in the roads except to make all out Of
them they could. He was not satisfied
that county engineer would solve the
difficulty. Farmers who are interested
in roads can mend them pretty we'll.
s. NJ. Lee said the greatest difficulty
in securing good roads is want of
knowledge on the part of the men who
mend them, and want ofproper machin.
cry and force to do the work. The
local supervisors, in the main, endeavor
to give value for what they receive. He
objected to the employment Of civil
engineer, because we have not money
enough to pay good one nor enough
to do to keep him employed. After
inquiry and observation, at home aud
abroad, he is in favor of retaining our
present system. There is want of
responsibility in it, but he don't know
where to fix it.
D. G. Wharton Smith said the matter
of roads is of vital interest to any
country and particularly to this attrac-
tive and beautiful region, which is
heavily handicapped in the race of
progress by bad roads. He had not
been satisfied with regard to the present
system, but since hearing the discussion
was inclined to think that the fault is
not in the system but in its admins
ton. The primary step towards i'm.
provement is to divorce the system from
politics. Mr.. Janney's suggestion in
regard to road engineer is good one.
Mr.. Smith said he was not in favor of
large expenditure of moneyin turn,
piking system. Many roads could be
kept in repair more economically by a
iudicious use of road scrapers.
VIM. n. Bayless thought the present
system good enough, but the trouble is
the right kind of men arc not elected
County Commissioners. Politics ought
to enter into road -mending as little as
possible. II we would put in men who
will appoint intelligent and competent
men we would have our roads we'll
mended. The general road supervisor
gives road warrants to men who will
vote for the man who appointed him,
whether competent to mend roads or
not. He was in favor Of Mr.. Janney's
suggestion to have a competent engineer
in charge of all the roads Of the county,
who should appoint the sub,supervisors
and see that they do their duty. He
should be elected by the people.
Hon. Hugh j. Jewett said the best
system he knew anything about is the
one practiced in Ohio. The county is
divided into road districts, each of
which elects its supervisor. There is a
general road fund levied for by IL e
County Commissioners upon all the
property of the county. There is in
addition district road tax which every
one must pay, whether assessed or not
These road funds are distinct. The
one levied in each district may be ap-
piled, if desired, for use in the district
instead of going into the county treas.
ury. Some pay this tax in money.
others by furnishing teams and laborers,
or work it out in their own proper per-
sons. The general fund in the hands of
the commissioners is used for building
and repairing bridges, opening new
roads, etc. Every man who pays the
district tax knows where it is going
and can see it if it is properly applied.
The work is all done under the general
supervision of the county surveyor, who
gives instructions, where necessary, to
the local supervisors. The system
works we'll. A system somewhat sim
liar prevails in Indiana and with equally
good results. Mr.. Jewett said he did
not think the County Commissioners
would be justified in levying taxes for
turnpiking the roads, but the people
living along line of road are justified
in having good roads at any cost to
themselves. They would make more
money by it. One obstacle in the way
of having good roads here is the want
of proper system of drainage. No
road will get bad if kept dry, and it
will keep dry if we'll drained. The
drains or breaks placed across the roads
here are relics of barbarism which he
did not expect to see in Hartford coun-
ty. If the money spent in making them
were applied to drainage we would
have better roads.
Geo. M. Jewett said he is perfectly
familiar with the Ohio system, which
is as good as any devised yet. One
man has charge of about five miles of
road and will probably have twenty or
thirty days work on it during the
spring and fall. He divides his road
fund so as to have some for emergen,
cies, A taxpayer can pay his road tax
or furnish men and teams at his option.
If the latter the supervisors have full
charge of them. If a man prefers he
can pay his district road tax directly
Mt ha